CB SK8R BOIS

Ditch the hype of the hover board and pick up the old school board worth its weight in wheels.

Some people call it an activity, a hobby, or a sport, but I would say skateboarding is none of these. There is an enticing energy to skating that makes it so addicting. It’s a blend of street environment and a community of friends. Being outside skating, sweating, kicking, pushing, and sometimes cursing is the perfect way to spend a day.

Rolling on the pavement, becoming one with the sidewalk — it is the true definition of persistence because there is no other person to help you land a trick. Your feet have to land on your board and no one else can land it for you. If you really love it, it teaches you to become a perfectionist.

Eric McMullen (’18) started skating three years ago and hasn’t looked back since.

“It’s a fun way to be outside,” he says.

He prefers to skate places around his house rather than go to a park. So what’s the best part of skateboarding?

“It’s a fun way to be outside with all your friends and be free,” the sophomore says. “I met some good friends through skating.”

So what boards do skaters prefer to ride?

“It all depends what board to use,” Eric says. “You usually use different boards for different occasions. For just cruising around though I like Welcome boards.”

It’s also another way to explore the terrain of your neighborhood. Finding spots around your area can take a while but take some friends and make a weekend out of it. Johnny Pressey (’18) usually skates in East Sac, Midtown, and at Sutter Middle School and doesn’t really like going to the parks that much.

“It’s really fun to just get out and go with your friends where you don’t really have an agenda,” he says. “It’s good to go out and be free. Riding around with your friends and visiting different places.”

“The perfect day of skating for me is just grabbing a board, getting a group of guys, and going out trying to land a good trick or something.”

Mental strength must be top notch, not too conscious, but completely on the grind. It can take months, even years, to land a trick. The persistence required to land a trick is variable. If you don’t want to put in the time, that’s okay, there’s a board out there for you. Johnny also recommends Welcome boards, which can come in all shapes and sizes of decks.

If you’re not up for landing tricks but still in search for a board you may want to look into a longboard. The longboard is faster than a skateboard with a bigger wheel that can cruise over cracks. The crevices that might trip up a skateboard will not trip up a longboard.

The longboard is convenient for all shapes and sizes of human beings. Andoni Zarrandikoetxea (’17) comes to school cruising every morning and every afternoon from Oak Park a couple blocks away.

“I started long boarding this year,” he claims. “<y brother taught me how to longboard.”

He’s a novice, but says he could easily switch for a skateboard if he wants to. He isn’t too anxious to get on a skateboard though as he gets the most fulfillment from the light cruise.

Summertime is perfect time for a cruise on the board.  One thing is for certain once you pick up the board it’s hard to put down. When asked how long he’ll continue to longboard, Andoni confidently says “for the rest of my life.”